Eddie Howe speaks out on Nick Woltemade penalty row and Newcastle star's reaction

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has expressed his delight at Nick Woltemade's eagerness to take a penalty in Brussels, despite it being Anthony Gordon's responsibility.

The German international tried to grab the ball after Anthony Elanga was fouled in the box, but Joelinton intervened and calmed him down. Despite this causing some tension for Gordon, who had previously blundered a penalty against Everton a year ago, Howe was unfazed by Woltemade's desire to score.

Howe said: "I love it! The best strikers I've worked with want to score. Even if there is a directive, they don't care! They want to score. They want that responsibility. I've got no issue with that at all."

After Gordon scored the first goal, Woltemade rushed over to celebrate with him, taking his Champions League tally to three this season.

Despite receiving criticism from Bayern Munich, including Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, questioning Woltemade's £69million fee, Howe remains confident in the striker's potential. He said: "His potential is high. There are certain things we want to get more from him.

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"The physicality of the Premier League will insist he does certain things, the covering of big distances.

"You have to do be able to do that to be effective, the constant nature of the ball is not out of play a lot in the Premier League, it is relentless. You have to be able to maintain that intensity for long periods of time.

"I think his standout qualities are his technical ability and he looks like he has a knack for scoring goals, which is a great thing to have, and of course his height and his presence, which I think he can get better at the longer he is with us.

"I think it is an exciting start for him and he's done really, really well, and more importantly, he is willing and he wants to do the work and he wants to improve."